The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-10-08

self with thoughts Of the shadows on the
curtain. On the evening of his return,
IA he took his favorite seat for a smoke,
he cast his eyes carelessly toward the /
opposite bay window. There was the
shadow of the lady ON the curtain. The
table also was there, furnished rs before.
But plainly there WAS great change in
the lady. With nothing to tell 1t but
her shadoWy profile, Banley was at once
struck by the alteration. Her attitude,
as she sat idly in her chair, expressed
uneasiness and detection. Her hair was
not dressed as of old, but combed plainly
back from her forehead, and about the
whole figure, as it showed sharply on
the curtain, there was an indiscribable
suggestion of calamity which instantly
aroused anxiety in Banley.
Soon the gentleman came on the scene
Ms usual-at first covering the entire cur
tain with shadow, and then getting down
to his proper proportions as he came to
the window. About him, too, there was
change seen instantly in his move
ments-an alarming change. He was no
more the brisk woer or the happy hus-
band-not even the gentleman. He
slouched into his chair, no pretense of a
saluiation passing between them. The
suggestion in his case was debauchery.
Evidently he did not care for the food
before him. lie sat with his head down
while the poor wife made a show Of
eating. At last he raised his head and
seemed to be speaking to her. Her re-
ply must have served to increase his ill
humor, for the next moment he rose un-
steadily to his feet, kicked his chair back
ward, and brought one hand down in a
blow upon the table. The lady sprang
up, in apparent alarm. There was abuse
or threat, or both in his next words, for
the poor woman, with her hands clasped
before her face, sunk to her knees. The
brute put one hand behind him to his
hip and drew forth
Not weapon Surely not a weapon
against the woman on her knees!
1t was weapon-a deadly weapon.
1t could not gleam in shadow, but BAN
ley saw murderous length Of blade up
raised above the woman's head.
Banley waited for no more, whatever
he was, he was not bastard, and would
not sit by and see a woman murdered.
He was out of the house in a instant,
and around into the next street vigorous
" pulling the door-bell of the house
within which that fearful tradegy was
being enacted. 1t seemed an age before
the bell was answered, but he lost nc
time in ceremony when at last servant
opened the door. He dashed in with
out a word, and up the broad stairway
Reaching the first landing, he saw before
him door which he took to be the one
he wanted to find. He was dimly con
scious that the servant who had let him
in was screaming and alarming the
, house but in his mind there was moth
ing but the question: Would he be tot
late to stop that murderous knife? HI
, dashed at the door just as it gas opened
from within.
Instantly Banley found himself in til,
hands of an active and powerful man
struggling in the faintly-lighted hall
=, There were voices of other men ofIerin
I advice and help to the one engaged witt
!, Banley, but that persons stood in n
' need. In moment or two Banley wa
: lying exhausted on the floor, his advcI
!, sary sitting astride him. When he hat
o convinced them that he was not dan
gerous maniac, they gave him the eS
y PLANTATION of the shadow on the cnrtaiI
He had been watching the home re
d hearsals of some members of an amateu
k dramatic club. They used the bay win
dow for STAGE Chicago Inter Ocean